What's in a name?...
What a load of rubbish. Hermione sighed as she examined the documents in front of her. She needed to make a choice, and while it would be a no-brainer for some women, she was struggling.
"Madam Minister?" Daisy Rosier's voice interrupted her spiral. Hermione smiled at the younger girl. A recent Hogwarts graduate, she had been assigned to Hermione a few months earlier by Kingsley. They worked well together. She was a half-blood, so she understood some of Hermione's frustrations with the Wizengamont.
"Lets get this show over with." Hermione said, following the younger girl out. They walked quickly through the atrium, their steps echoing around the room. At 45 years old, Hermione had been elected minister after the years of Kingsleys leadership. While she was a no-brainer for most people, she knew that some of the older families still had reservations. She had run against Cormac Mclaggen, who had been seen as a step back from everything they had overcome since the war.
"Hermione!" Kinglsey greeted her as she stepped into his old and her new office.
"Kings, you seem a little too excited to see me." She smiled, letting the older wizard pull her into a hug. She knew the job hadn't been easy on her old friend. Pulling them out of the war and establishing the reformed needed to ensure it wouldn't happen again was a hard job. She had done her part, joining the ministry after taking her NEWTs, deciding to venture into lawmaking. She spent her time after the war arguing and defending Kingsley's reforms before the Wizengamont. When he announced his retirement, everyone knew she would be the successor.
"I'm ready to be done. I've done the best I can, and I know that you will be even better." He smiled at her, leading her to the desk. Reporters from The Prophet, Witch Weekley, and a few others would come to report on this. She had been adamant that she wouldn't do a grand swearing-in. Instead, she would take her oath privately, with the exception of the press. While she didn't want to, she consented to a gala in her honor.
"Are you ready?" He asked as he motioned to Daisy and his assistant.
Hermione nodded, watching him signal for them to let the press in. She rolled her eyes at the sight of Rita Skeeter, knowing she was unavoidable. A few members of the Wizengamont had also been invited as witnesses. No one she really cared for, but still, it was enough people to crowd the minister's office.
"Welcome all. We are here for the official swearing in of our new Minister."
Hermione stood quietly as Kingsley spoke. She still hadn't decided, and it was stressing her out. The flashes kept going off around them. She wanted this job; she wanted to help people and make change, but this part of it she hated. Now, she had a choice to make, and she still didn't know. Her mind kept racing with all the pros and cons as she took the oath, agreeing to serve all members of the wizarding world.
"Congratulations to our new Minister for Magic," Kingsley said. When it was all said and done, she felt the magic around her settle. He handed her a quill to sign her name for the first time on a few documents. Taking a breath, she made her choice.
"I see you went with that name," Kingsley said when it was just them again.
"When I looked at the papers and thought about it, it felt right. Its my last name, the last name my children have." She explained.
"Yes, but it comes with baggage. Is that really how you want to be remembered?"
"Yes. Its who I am. Its who I chose to be."
"Fair enough. I'll see you at the party then?"
"I wouldn't miss it."
The ministry ballroom had been beautifully decorated in her honor—gold for her moniker, "The Golden Girl." She looked around from her place behind the stage. She hadn't seen her children and husband since the night before, and she hoped they were too overwhelmed by everything. Kingsley had gotten up and given another speech for her, the last before she would go up and give one of her own.
"Mione?" Harry and Ron's voices brought her out of her thoughts. She turned and smiled at her two oldest friends rushing into their waiting arms. She inhaled the familiar scent of them.
"What are you doing back here?" She asked
"You know how these things go. You're minister now, but we still are the Golden Trio." Harry rolled his eyes as he spoke. Over the years, Harry had also preferred a quieter life.
"We're a package deal, Mione. Wait. Now that you're a minister, do we have to call you madam? or whatever your new title is?" Ron asked, concerned.
"I won't make you. Can't say the same for my husband."
"Your husband's a git." Ron laughed.
Daisy came rising back, letting her know it was her time to come out and give her speech.
"Come with me?" She asked the boys.
"Always, " they said, taking one of her hands. The room erupted in cheers as she walked in with Ron and Harry. All these years, the public loved seeing them together. They walked her to the podium, each kissing her on the cheek before taking their seats nearby. Taking a breath, she scanned the room, looking for another comforting pair of eyes. Luckily, they had been seated close; she found him quickly. He blew her a kiss and motioned for her to take a breath as she began her speech.
She addressed the war and how much good had been done since then, keeping in mind the merits of tradition. She avowed the same promises she gave when she ran for office, leading with fairness and kindness, not forgetting the lessons war taught them at a young age. The crowd loved it and cheered her as she finished, to shouts of her name.
She waved as she walked off the stage towards her family, the children perking up at the sight of her. Her youngest ran to her after fighting her father to be let down.
"Mama." She could hear the flashes going off at the sight, although she didn't care.
"Minister Granger." Her husband greeted her, along with her two older children.
"Its Minister Malfoy to you." She responded with a smirk worthy of her last name gracing her lips. Draco's eyes grew wide at her statement.
"Hermione." He began to protest.
"It's done. I'm proud of you. I'm proud to be your wife and a Malfoy—the first muggle-born Minister and a Malfoy... I can't wait to hear how conflicted Lucius will be." He laughed, pulling her close and kissing her deeply, much to their daughter's protest.
"Muma, Papa, I squish!!!!" Aurora shrieked, causing laughter from anyone in earshot.
"Minister, they would like you both to open the dancing," Daisy said, apportching them with a drink in each hand. Draco took the one he was offered, taking a sip before setting down. Hermione, on the other hand, drank it all in one go, savoring the burn she felt.
"Be careful. You drinking like that is how we ended up with Aurora," Draco whispered to her as they walked to the center of the room.
"Oh sush." She laughed as he spun her around. The music began slowly, and he led her. She was used to this by now; every time they were at events, people couldn't stop gawking at them. The Golden Girl and the Malfoy heir, married, in love, with children and multiple.
"You truly are something, love." He said, pulling her close.
"I have you to thank for that. I had the wings and you taught me to soar."
She still remembered it clearly. He had taken the Malfoy seat in the Wizengamont from his father after the war, it had been seen as a userption by many of the other families. Draco had publicly taken over and condemned his father. She had noticed him every time she stood before the chamber arguing something and every time he voted in her favor.
"Progress is what is wanted, and progress is what we will have." He was quoted saying, when asked why he broke away from the way the other families voted. The first time they spoke after the war was when he barged into her office, asking her to explain a bill and make it more progressive. She had been impressed and aroused. Draco Malfoy was commanding, and she quickly realized she liked it when he bossed her around, with reason. Their relationship felt natural, and while there were a few bumps, they were always a team, learning and growing together, always a team. Choosing to take a name filled with negative connotations and taking it as her own had been an act of revenge. She, a muggle-born, had married into the poster family for blood purity. Their marriage marked a change in their society, and they were both proud of it.
"I love you so much Draco Malfoy."
"I love you more, Hermione Malfoy."